Pile Burn Planned for Tooele County

Salt Lake City, Utah—Snow on the ground and favorable weather conditions may provide a window for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah to burn brush piles in Tooele County over several days this week. BLM-Utah fire managers plan to burn approximately 250 acres of piles of juniper cuttings located five miles southwest of the community of Rush Valley. The piles are a by-product of thinning projects conducted to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to local communities by breaking up the continuity of the encroaching juniper woodland. BLM-Utah fire managers have completed similar thinning treatments over the last several years, which helps restore sagebrush ecosystems in the area, as well as reduce wildfire risk.

The BLM coordinates closely with the Utah Division of Air Quality to ensure proper conditions exist for smoke dispersal, and fire crews will monitor burn piles following ignition. More information on this pile burning project can be found at: www.utahfireinfo.gov.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.

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West Desert District Office
2370 South 2300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119